I have a scag mower with a 14 H.P. Kohler Command. The mower lacks power. There is only 50 lbs. of compression but inspection of the head and valves found no evidence of worn or defective parts. Upon checking the valve/rocker assemblies there appears to be no clearance. Is the "no clearance" normal for this engine? If not what is the proper clearance?
Kohler Command Valve Clearance
Scagmower48
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I have a scag mower with a 14 H.P. Kohler Command. The mower lacks power. There is only 50 lbs. of compression but inspection of the head and valves found no evidence of worn or defective parts. Upon checking the valve/rocker assemblies there appears to be no clearance. Is the "no clearance" normal for this engine? If not what is the proper clearance?
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bump, i have all day to work on it tommorrow, and if I can't get it fixed im off to the scag dealer on monday for a new one!
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Go to kohlers website to make sure but I believe it should be .003. I had the same problem (lack of power) but mine was also fluttering loudly, turned out the exhaust lobe had worn off on the camshaft.
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Yes they have hydraulic lifters but you still have to set the valve lash at .003
![Image]()
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Thanks Albery
right now I have zero valve clearence after I lapped the valves. So now i am going out to give it some clearence.
right now I have zero valve clearence after I lapped the valves. So now i am going out to give it some clearence.
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are you sure thats not a courge engine you have in that pic? never have i seen a 14 hp comand that had adjustable valve lash.
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Yes I am sure. This photo came from Kohlers web site for the 15 Command.
I got six 15hp Kohler engines and none of them have that adjustment
Guess there are different model?
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well they don't have an adjustment but you can file away some of the material off the valve stem to make up for 15 years wear and tear. I did this and it did not make a difference. Its the governor thats giving me trouble. Going to the dealer tommorrow to get a new 17hp kawi 48 scag for $3299. Im looking forward to this. I'll fix this machine when work slows down and it will become my back up mower.
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Guess no actual Kohler dealers have responded yet or they don't go to their update meetings. For about 3 years now the CV single cylinder engines that are recoil start only do have a valve adjustment. It's .003-.005. Electric start engines still have no clearence.
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Ok, we're an authorized dealer/servicer for Kohler. And the info that was provided in the photo is correct. If that's the engine you happen to have. Some Command series engines do have and adjustable valve lash. But it's not adjustable like it is on a Briggs engine. It would really all depend on the engine in question. Some have it, some dont.
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CV single cylinder engines that are recoil start only do have a valve adjustment. It's .003-.005. Electric start engines still have no clearence.
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well the man said he has an older 14 HP engine yes i got to the updates it seems you know nothing about the older kohlers just how long have you been a kohler master tech? before people open there mouths they should sit back and think first. now just how long ago was it that kohler sold a new 14 hp cv? been more that 3 years i am sure. so now you gave the guy some bad advice and he has more that likely killed his engine. good going guys!!!!
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I don't see where anything anyone told him to do could kill his engine. Well except whoever told him to file on it. That wouldn't be good. But he was smart enough to ask questions so I'm sure he's smart enough to notice that rocker arm bolts he has on his engine are quite different than the rocker arm set up in the picture, which by the way looks nothing like a Courage. Admittedly I drifted away from the original question and focused on the debate over adjustable rocker arms on CV singles. So in answer to the original question, Yes typically there would be no clearance between the rocker arm and the valve stem. The only exception to that would be on a newer CV single recoil start engine. All other Command engines have no adjustment on the rocker arms. Excluding of course the CH5 & CH6. No hydraulic lifters on those models so those do need to be set with a clearance.
Now all that being said remember this. If you are working on a Kohler Command remember that once a rocker arm has lost contact with the push rod for any reason (i.e. you took the rocker arm off, bent push rod, broker rocker arm ect) you will have to bleed the oil out of the lifter before you reassemble the engine or there is a very good chance your valve will be open when you tighten down the rocker arm. The hydraulic lifter has a spring inside of it and when you take the pressure off of the lifter that spring expands and moves the piston inside the lifter and sucks in oil. Now you have a fully expanded hard lifter. Just be careful of this because if you don't bleed the lifter you may bend a push rod. The best way to get the oil out of the lifter is to take the lifter out and take it apart. On the single cylinder engines you will have to take the head off to get the lifter out. Kohler was going to change the design so you could pull the lifter without removing the head but if they have I haven't seen one. You could also rotate the engine to the position where the valve is partly open and leave it sit and the will eventually bleed the oil out of the lifter.
Now all that being said remember this. If you are working on a Kohler Command remember that once a rocker arm has lost contact with the push rod for any reason (i.e. you took the rocker arm off, bent push rod, broker rocker arm ect) you will have to bleed the oil out of the lifter before you reassemble the engine or there is a very good chance your valve will be open when you tighten down the rocker arm. The hydraulic lifter has a spring inside of it and when you take the pressure off of the lifter that spring expands and moves the piston inside the lifter and sucks in oil. Now you have a fully expanded hard lifter. Just be careful of this because if you don't bleed the lifter you may bend a push rod. The best way to get the oil out of the lifter is to take the lifter out and take it apart. On the single cylinder engines you will have to take the head off to get the lifter out. Kohler was going to change the design so you could pull the lifter without removing the head but if they have I haven't seen one. You could also rotate the engine to the position where the valve is partly open and leave it sit and the will eventually bleed the oil out of the lifter.
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